I’ve previously written about my diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS.
While it’s been many years since I was diagnosed, I know I still need to watch what I eat more carefully than others. Unfortunately, this is a difficult time of year to do that. For me, it seems to be all or nothing. I need to be more strict if I hope to get and keep my weight down, but I also give myself a break.
It’s harder to lose weight with PCOS, but I don’t want to give up holiday treats completely. It’s also a birthday-heavy month for me, so there’s bound to be some cake too. Instead of giving it all up, I’m giving myself a break, but I’m still doing some things to minimize the damage that the extra sugar does this time of year.
Here are my tips to staying healthy during this time
Don’t bring home leftovers from parties.
As tempting as it may be, don’t bring leftovers home from holiday parties. Contain the indulgence to the parties, so you only have one serving instead of multiple. Those leftover cookies you bring home won’t last long.
Take any treats you make to family get-togethers.
Baking this time of year is so much fun, and you don’t need to forgo the memories that come along with it. Make the cookies. Make the fudge. Just don’t eat all of it yourself. Take some of the treats to share with friends or family, and you won’t have it there to tempt you.
Remember to exercise.
Even if you don’t get too crazy, move your body. It can be really tempting to sit around and watch movies. You can totally do this, but make sure to move your body every day in some way. It’ll help you feel better.
Have the cookie.
You still need to watch what you eat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some of your favorite holiday treats. A cookie or a few pieces of candy won’t destroy the rest of your diet. The key is not having these things every day.
Watch the booze.
You can enjoy a drink or two for the holidays, but remember that alcohol may make you want those treat foods even more. They also contain a good amount of calories and, in many cases, sugar.
Get enough sleep.
Nothing will make you want to reach for more sugar and carbs, quite like being tired. You may be inclined to eat more of these things if you’re really sleepy. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep to avoid eating more of these things.
Enjoy family time.
With so many people having side gigs or bringing work home, make sure to enjoy family time. The separation from work for a bit will only do you good to reduce stress and make some great memories with your family.
Get the kids moving and move with them.
As mentioned above, getting up and moving is key. Even if the idea of a structured workout plan is too much with all of the activities you have, just getting up and having a dance party with the kids can help a great deal. Move your body, and you’ll feel better. So will the kids because they will need to burn off some energy too.
Remember to relax.
Holidays can be stressful for everyone. You may be running to different places and feeling like you need to do all the things. Make sure you slow down a bit, too, relax, and manage your stress. You don’t have to go to every party. You don’t have to plan a ton of activities for your kids.
Dealing with PCOS during holiday time may seem daunting, but if you try to keep overindulgence to a minimum while making sure to move your body and get enough rest, it isn’t so bad. Enjoy some treats and time with your family.
